Safety systems for modular seating

ABSTRACT

A safety system for a vehicle includes a work table, an airbag, and a controller that includes a processor. The work table is disposed in an extended position and is movable to a reaction position and a stowed position. The processor is configured to receive information indicative of a vehicle event. The processor is further configured to send a command to deploy the airbag based on the information indicative of the vehicle event. When deployed, the airbag expands to abut a bottom surface of the work table and move the work table from the extended position to the reaction position such that the bottom surface of the work table in the reaction position serves as a reaction surface for the airbag.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 63/024,038, filed May 13, 2020, entitled “Safety Systems for ModularSeating,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to safety systems and specifically toairbags and other motion-control devices configured to control motion ofan occupant seated in a variety of positions within a modular seatingsystem.

BACKGROUND

A passenger vehicle can leverage interior surfaces in a vehicle cabin toserve as airbag reaction surfaces. For example, a dashboard, a dashpanel, a windshield, or combinations thereof can serve as a reactionsurface for an airbag that deploys from the vehicle dash panel or from asteering wheel during a vehicle event such as a collision to prohibit anoccupant from impacting these (or other) structures. In another example,the dashboard or a dash panel can serve as a reaction surface for a kneebolster that deploys from a dash panel or a steering column into a footwell in order to reduce pelvis excursion.

In modular seating systems, such as in a vehicle with modular interiorelements including seat systems that can be arranged into aconfiguration consistent with the vehicle cabin serving as a mobileoffice or a living room, traditional reaction surfaces such asdashboards, dash panels, and foot wells may not be present to serve asreaction surfaces for airbags. New safety system designs are thusrequired to protect occupants during vehicle events.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, the disclosure describes a safety system for avehicle including a work table, an airbag, and a controller thatincludes a processor. The work table is disposed in an extended positionand is movable to a reaction position and a stowed position. Theprocessor is configured to receive information indicative of a vehicleevent. The processor is further configured to send a command to deploythe airbag based on the information indicative of the vehicle event.When deployed, the airbag expands to abut a bottom surface of the worktable and move the work table from the extended position to the reactionposition such that the bottom surface of the work table in the reactionposition serves as a reaction surface for the airbag.

In the first aspect, the processor can be further configured to receiveinformation indicative of the stowed position for the work table andsend a command to cause movement of the work table from the stowedposition to the extended position based on the information indicative ofthe vehicle event and the stowed position for the work table. The safetysystem can further comprise a table release mechanism configured toprohibit movement of the work table in a locked configuration and allowmovement of the work table in an unlocked configuration. The processorcan be further configured to send a command to the table releasemechanism to move from the locked configuration to the unlockedconfiguration to allow movement of the work table between the extendedposition and the reaction position based on the information indicativeof the vehicle event and the information indicative of the extendedposition of the work table.

In the first aspect, the safety system can include a seat system and theprocessor can be further configured to receive information indicative ofa rearward position for a seat in the seat system. The seat can have aforward position proximate to the work table and the rearward positionspaced from the work table. The processor can be further configured tosend a command to a seat release mechanism to move from a lockedconfiguration to an unlocked configuration to allow movement of the seatbased on the information indicative of the vehicle event, the extendedposition of the work table, and the rearward position of the seat. Theprocessor can be further configured to send a command to a seatmotion-control device configured to cause movement of the seat from therearward position to the forward position based on the informationindicative of the vehicle event, the extended position of the worktable, and the rearward position of the seat.

In the first aspect, the safety system can include a seatenergy-absorbing (EA) device configured to control movement of the seatbetween the rearward and forward positions. The seat EA device caninclude an EA element configured to deform above a predetermined loadthreshold to control movement of the seat between the rearward andforward positions. The EA element can be a series of notch elementsspaced along a longitudinal axis of a seat guide. The seat EA device canbe a cable coupled to the seat and configured to payout from a cableguide above a predetermined load threshold to control movement of theseat along a seat guide. The cable guide can include a spool and torsionbar configured to control payout of the cable along the seat guide. Thecable can include a ductile strip and the cable guide can includebarriers configured to deform the ductile strip to control payout of theductile strip along the seat guide. The features described in respect tothe first aspect can be used together or independently in the safetysystem.

In a second aspect, the disclosure describes a method that includesreceiving information indicative of an imminent collision for a vehicleand determining that a work table in the vehicle is in an extendedposition. The work table has a stowed position, the extended position,and a reaction position. The method also includes sending a command todeploy an airbag of the vehicle in response to receiving the informationindicative of the imminent collision and determining that the work tableis in the extended position. The work table is configured to move fromthe extended position to the reaction position based on expansion of theairbag so that a bottom surface of the work table in the reactionposition serves as a reaction surface for the airbag.

In the second aspect, the method can include determining that the worktable is in the stowed position and sending a command to cause movementof the work table from the stowed position to the extended position inresponse to determining that the work table is in the stowed positionand in response to receiving the information indicative of the imminentcollision. The method can include determining that a seat associatedwith the work table is in a rearward position. The seat can have aforward position proximate to the work table and the rearward positionspaced from the work table. The method can include sending a command toa seat release mechanism to move from a locked configuration to anunlocked configuration to allow movement of the seat in response todetermining that the seat is in the rearward position and that the worktable is in the extended position. The method can include sending acommand to a seat motion-control device to cause movement of the seatfrom the rearward position to the forward position in response todetermining that the seat is in the rearward position and that the worktable is in the extended position. The method can include sending acommand to a seat energy-absorbing (EA) device to control movement ofthe seat between the rearward and forward positions. The featuresdescribed in respect to the second aspect can be used together orindependently in the method.

In a third aspect, the disclosure describes a safety system for avehicle that includes a work table disposed in an extended position andmovable to a reaction position and a stowed position, a seat disposed ina rearward position spaced from the work table and movable to a forwardposition proximate to the work table, and an airbag disposed in a stowedposition under the work table and expandable to a deployed positionabutting a bottom surface of the work table. The safety system includesa controller having a processor configured to send a command to deploythe airbag upon receiving information indicative of a vehicle event andsend a command to move the seat from the rearward position to theforward position upon receiving the information indicative of thevehicle event. In the third aspect, the airbag moves the work table fromthe extended position to the reaction position such that the bottomsurface of the work table in the reaction position serves as a reactionsurface for the airbag.

In the third aspect, the processor can be configured to send a commandto a seat release mechanism to move from a locked configuration to anunlocked configuration to allow movement of the seat from the rearwardposition to the forward position. The processor can be configured tosend a command to a seat motion-control device to cause movement of theseat from the rearward position to the forward position. The safetysystem can include a seat energy-absorbing (EA) device configured tocontrol movement of the seat between the rearward and forward positions.The seat EA device can include an EA element configured to deform abovea predetermined load threshold to control movement of the seat betweenthe rearward and forward positions. The features described in respect tothe third aspect can be used together or independently in the safetysystem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a vehicle cabin includingmodular interior elements.

FIG. 2 shows a motion diagram for an example of an airbag systeminteracting with the modular interior elements of FIG. 1 .

FIGS. 3-6 show motion diagrams for examples of energy-absorbing (EA)devices.

FIGS. 7-8 show motion diagrams for examples of additional reactionsurfaces for use with the airbag system of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a safety system.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a hardware configuration for a controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the safety systems described herein, an airbag is used with novelreaction surfaces including a work table movable between a stowedposition, an extended position, and a reaction position. When deployed,the airbag can expand to abut or interface with a bottom surface of thework table and move the work table from the extended position to thereaction position to provide a reaction surface for the airbag. Inaddition, the safety system can include a seat system with a seatmovable between a forward position proximate to the work table and arearward position spaced from the work table. The seat can be movablebetween the rearward position and the forward position based on theposition of the work table prior to or during deployment of the airbagto better position an occupant with respect to the airbag. In the eventthat the work table is absent or stowed, additional or alternatereaction surfaces can be deployed for use with the airbag.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a vehicle cabin 100 includingseveral modular interior elements. The vehicle cabin 100 includes a seatsystem 102 having a seat base 104 to support a seat pan 106 and a seatback 108 that is rotatable with respect to the seat pan 106. The seatbase 104 is movable along a seat guide 110, in this example, in afore-aft direction (e.g., an X direction) within the vehicle cabin 100as shown by dotted-line arrow A. The seat guide 110 can control movementof the seat base 104 using rails, tracks, electromagnets, or any othersuitable mechanism.

The seat system 102 can include a seat motion-control device 112associated with the seat guide 110 and designed to effectuate controlledmotion of the seat base 104, and hence the supported seat pan 106 andseat back 108, with respect to the seat guide 110 as shown by thedotted-line arrow A. The seat guide 110 is designed to allow an extendedlength of fore-aft direction travel, for example, across a largerportion or an entirety of the vehicle cabin 100 as compared to moretraditional vehicles with limited travel.

The seat system 102 can also include a seat release mechanism 114associated with the seat guide 110 and the seat base 104. Both the seatmotion-control device 112 and the seat release mechanism 114 can receivesignals or information from a controller 116 indicative of prohibiting,allowing, or otherwise controlling movement of the seat base 104 alongthe seat guide 110. For example, the controller 116 can send a signal tothe seat release mechanism 114 that commands the seat release mechanism114 to switch from a locked configuration where movement of the seatbase 104 along the seat guide 110 is prohibited to an unlockedconfiguration where movement of the seat base 104 along the seat guide110 is allowed. Movement of the seat base 104 can be effected by theseat motion-control device 112 or by motion of the vehicle.

The seat system 102 also includes a restraint 118 for use in securing anoccupant (not shown) to the seat pan 106 and the seat back 108. Therestraint 118 can be coupled to an anchor (not shown) and include a lapportion and a shoulder portion (not shown). The restraint 118 mayinclude additional anchors (not shown), be coupled to one or morebuckles (not shown) to secure and release the restraint 118, or becoupled to one or more retractors (not shown) that control payout of therestraint 118 during various vehicle events.

The vehicle cabin 100 of FIG. 1 also includes a table system 120. Thetable system 120 includes a work table 122 for use by an occupant withinthe vehicle cabin 100, for example, to hold a laptop, book, mobiledevice, journal, drink, or other personal paraphernalia. The work table122 is movable along, within, or about a table guide 124, and in thisexample, the work table 122 is movable in a fore-aft direction (e.g., anX direction) with respect to the table guide 124 as indicated withdotted-line arrow B. The table guide 124 can guide or control movementof the work table 122 using rails, tracks, electromagnets, or any othersuitable mechanism.

The table system 120 can also include a table motion-control device 126associated with the work table 122 and the table guide 124 and designedto effectuate the controlled motion of the work table 122 with respectto the table guide 124 as shown by the dotted-line arrow B. The tablesystem 120 can also include a table release mechanism 128 associatedwith the table guide 124 and the work table 122. The table releasemechanism 128 can have a locked configuration prohibiting motion of thework table 122 and an unlocked configuration allowing motion of the worktable 122. Both the table motion-control device 126 and the tablerelease mechanism 128 can receive signals or information from thecontroller 116 indicative of prohibiting, allowing, or otherwisecontrolling movement of the work table 122 along, about, or with respectto the table guide 124.

In the example of FIG. 1 , the work table 122 is shown in an extendedposition outwardly extending from the table guide 124. The work table122 can also retract into the table guide 124 in a stowed position (notshown) when the occupant is not using the work table 122. The seatsystem 102 is shown in a rearward position that is spaced from the worktable 122 in FIG. 1 . The term “spaced from” is used to indicate that anoccupant using the seat system 102 is sufficiently far from the worktable 122 so that use of the work table 122 may be inconvenient. Toeffect repositioning, the controller 116 can send a signal to the tablemotion-control device 126 to deploy the work table 122 to extend fromthe table guide 124 or to stow the work table 122 within the table guide124. In another example, the controller 116 can send a signal to thetable release mechanism 128 to allow (e.g., in the unlockedconfiguration) or prohibit (e.g., in the locked configuration) manual orpassive storage, deployment, or rotation of the work table 122 withrespect to the table guide 124, for example, by manual occupant control.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an airbag system 230 interactingwith the modular interior elements of the seat system 102 and the tablesystem 120 in the vehicle cabin 100 of FIG. 1 . The airbag system 230includes an airbag 232 deployable from a position below the work table122. The airbag system 230 also includes airbag storage 234, forexample, airbag packaging and inflation mechanisms (not shown), that arestowed or stored proximate to or within an interior surface 236 of thevehicle cabin 100. The interior surface 236 can be a side wall, a frontwall, a foot rest, a door panel, or any other interior surface of thevehicle cabin 100.

The airbag 232 is shown in a deployed position, having expanded from astowed position within the airbag storage 234 under the work table 122,abutting or pushing against a bottom surface of the work table 122, thenmoving the work table 122 from the extended position into a reactionposition where the work table 122 serves as a reaction surface for theairbag 232. This motion is indicated with dotted-line arrow C, with theairbag 232 expanding from below the work table 122 and rotating the worktable 122 up and about a pivot (proximate to a location of the tablerelease mechanism 128, but not shown) with respect to the table guide124, until the work table 122 is both clear of an occupant (as theoccupant may be moving forward) and situated in the reaction position asshown to offer an additional reaction surface for the airbag 232. In theexample of FIG. 2 , both the interior surface 236 of the vehicle cabin100 and the bottom surface of the work table 122 serve as reactionsurfaces for the airbag 232 once deployed.

The airbag system 230 can be an adaptive airbag system (e.g., with amulti-stage or a multi-chamber airbag 232) to enable occupant contactwith the airbag 232 to be optimally timed and to better control movementof the occupant. The vehicle cabin 100 can also include advancedsensors/cameras (not shown) to determine proper timing for the airbag232 to deploy depending on various aspects of a vehicle event, such asseverity, location, speed, time to imminent collision, occupant size,occupant mass, position of the seating system 102, restraint usage, etc.The vehicle event can be a rapid deceleration, an imminent or ongoingcollision, or other event sufficient to cause airbag deployment asdetermined, for example, by the advanced sensors/cameras.

The types of sensors employed can be varied and can communicateinformation to the controller 116. For example, the sensors can includesensors configured to capture information from an external environmentoutside of the vehicle cabin. External-sensing sensors can includestechnologies such as radar, LIDAR, imaging, infrared, or othertechnologies configured to detect potential vehicle events such asimminent collisions and provide information to the controller 116 toallow a determination of timing of the vehicle event. The sensors canalso include sensors internal to the vehicle cabin 100 such as weightsensors, buckle switch sensors, internal cameras, seat position sensors,work table position sensors, imaging sensors, etc. that can provideinformation to the controller 116 to allow determinations to be made forpositioning and deployment timing for the airbag system 230.

FIG. 2 shows the seat system 102 in a forward position as compared tothe rearward position shown in FIG. 1 , that is, the seat system 102 hasmoved forward in the vehicle cabin 100 to be proximate to the work table122 as indicated by dotted-line arrow D. By controlling seat stroke,that is, fore-aft movement of the seat system 102 within the vehiclecabin 100, proper positioning of the occupant with respect to the airbag232 is possible. The term “proximate” is used to indicate that the seatsystem 102 is sufficiently close to the work table 122 to allow anoccupant to use the work table 122.

Movement of the seat base 104 along the seat guide 110 to position theseat system 102 with respect to the airbag system 230 may be needed whena distance between the two systems is either below or above apredetermined distance threshold. The predetermined distance thresholdcan be selected to optimize performance of the airbag 232 with respectto the occupant, either restrained or unrestrained. Movement of the seatbase 104 can be caused by inertia during the vehicle event, controlledby the seat motion-control device 112, or controlled by a combinationthereof. Movement of the occupant and the seat system 102 toward (oraway from) the airbag 232 prior to or during a vehicle event such as animminent collision can improve efficiency of the airbag 232.

As shown in FIG. 2 , moving the seat base 104 forward toward the airbag232 as shown by the dotted-line arrow D prior to or during a front-endvehicle event can prevent an unrestrained occupant from slipping,sliding, or falling off of the seat pan 106 or the seat back 108 whilealso bringing the occupant closer to the airbag 232 to improveefficiency of the airbag 232. Though examples herein describe aforward-facing seat system 102 and a front-end airbag system 230, thesame components in alternate positions can be used in combination withrearward-facing occupants and/or read-end vehicle events.

In an example of safety system operation for a front-end vehicle eventwith a forward-facing occupant, the controller 116 can send a signal tothe table release mechanism 128 to change from a locked configuration toan unlocked configuration in order to allow the work table 122 to rotateupward with respect to the table guide 124 in response to informationindicative of a vehicle event such as an imminent collision to preparethe work table 122 to serve as a reaction surface for the airbag 232.Rotation of the work table 122 can be controlled by expansion of theairbag 232, or, for example, implemented using the table motion-controldevice 126. The controller 116 can also send a signal to the seatrelease mechanism 114 to move to the unlocked configuration so that theseat base 104 is movable with respect to the seat guide 110. The seatbase 104 (and thus the seat pan 106 and the seat back 108) can beconfigured to move toward the work table 122 and the airbag 232 inresponse to information indicative of a vehicle event. Movement of theseat base 104 can be effectuated by motion of the vehicle, or, forexample, implemented or controlled using the seat motion-control device112. In some examples, the motion-control device 112 can include anenergy-absorbing (EA) device to decrease a severity of a pulseexperienced by a restrained occupant during the vehicle event while alsobringing the occupant closer to the airbag 232.

FIGS. 3-6 show motion diagrams for examples of EA devices for use withthe motion-control devices 112, 126 shown and described in FIGS. 1 and 2. The EA devices can be used to dampen movement during a vehicle eventsuch as an imminent collision and can serve as part of or be otherwiseassociated with the motion-control devices 112, 126.

FIG. 3 shows a bending bar EA device with a ductile strip that isattached to an anchor point 337 and routed through a series of barrierswhich plastically deform the ductile strip, generating a tunable forcethreshold for payout of the ductile strip, with payout of the anchorpoint 337 indicated using a dotted-line arrow E. In other words,deformation of the ductile strip will slow or dampen motion of theanchor point 337.

FIG. 4 shows a cable or other tension carrying member that is attachedto an anchor point 437 and coiled around a spool with a torsion bar thatcontrols a tunable force threshold for payout, with payout of the anchorpoint 437 indicated using a dotted-line arrow F. In other words, thecable or tension carrying member will begin to unwind from the spool tosupport motion of the anchor point 437. In FIGS. 3 and 4 , motion of theanchor points 337, 437 can be configured to occur after the tunableforce threshold is met. The EA devices of FIGS. 3 and 4 may be suitablefor use with the seat motion-control device 112 to control motion of theseat system 102 during a vehicle event.

FIG. 5 shows a ladder-type EA device having notches configured tosupport a tunable force threshold in that the notches withstand apredetermined amount of force from an anchor point 537 prior toundergoing compression or bending. In this manner, the notches controlmovement of the anchor point 537. Motion of the anchor point 537 isindicated using a dotted-line arrow G. In other words, the anchor point537 will move from notch to notch as subsequent notches compress or bendunder force from the anchor point 537.

FIG. 6 shows a deformable element such as a honeycomb or extruded memberwith a tunable force threshold so that the deformable element controlsmovement of an anchor point 637. Motion of the anchor point 637 isindicated using a dotted-line arrow H. In other words, the anchor point637 will exert force against the deformable element to cause crushing orbending above the tunable force threshold. Motion of the anchor points537, 637 can occur after the tunable force threshold is met. The EAdevices of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be suitable for use with the seatmotion-control device 112 or the table motion-control device 126 duringa vehicle event.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show motion diagrams for examples of reaction surfaces738, 838 for use with the airbag system 230 of FIG. 2 . For simplicity,the seat system 102 is not shown, though operation of the seat system102 is compatible with use of the reaction surfaces 738, 838, forexample, when the work table 122 (FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is absent or in astowed position. In other words, the reaction surfaces 738, 838 canserve to support and position the airbag 232 as deployed from the airbagstorage 234 proximate to or disposed within the interior surface 236 ofthe vehicle cabin 100 in situations where the work table 122 (FIGS. 1and 2 ) is absent or is in a stowed position prior to a vehicle eventsuch as an imminent collision.

The reaction surfaces 738, 838 can be formed from flat, table-likestructures or can include extendable, bendable, or rotatable arms withmesh, netting, foldable or rollable materials, stretchable materials, orother deformable and stowable materials extending between the arms. Thereaction surfaces 738, 838 are configured for storage proximate to anddeployment into the vehicle cabin 100. In the example of FIG. 7 , thereaction surface 738 is configured for storage proximate to the interiorsurface 236 and is movable to an extended position as shown by adotted-line arrow I. In the example of FIG. 8 , the reaction surface 838is configured for storage proximate to a roof or pillar (not shown)proximate to the vehicle cabin 100 and is movable to an extendedposition as shown by a dotted-line arrow J.

Various mechanisms can receive commands from the controller 116 toeffect motion of the work table 122, the seat base 104, and the reactionsurfaces 738, 838. For example, motion-control devices 112, 126, 740,840 may be configured as one or more of an electromechanical device, apneumatic device, and/or a pre-tensioned spring device. Theelectromechanical device can include an electric motor, a threaded rod,and a threaded guide coupled to a sensor module (not shown) to receivecommands from the controller 116. The pneumatic device can includepressurized gas (or a vacuum) configured to effect movement of a piston(not shown) based on a command from the controller 116. Thepre-tensioned spring device can include a spring that is coupled to asensor module (not shown). The spring can be held in tension until beingselectively released, for example, based on a command from thecontroller 116. The motion-control devices 112, 126, 740, 840 can alsocontrol movement using other mechanisms such as telescoping systems,folding systems, cable or tether systems, or track-based systems.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram that shows a safety system 942. The safetysystem 942 can include a controller 944, sensors 946, a seat system 948,a reaction system 950, and an airbag system 952. The safety system 942can include components similar to components described in reference toFIGS. 2A-7 . For example, the seat system 948 can operate in a mannersimilar to the seat system 102 of FIGS. 1-2 . The reaction system 950can operate in a manner similar to the table system 120 described inreference to FIGS. 1-2 and the reaction surfaces 738, 838 described inreference to FIGS. 7-8 . The airbag system 952 can operate in a mannersimilar to the airbag system 230 described in reference to FIGS. 2, 7,and 8 . The safety system 942 is shown as including the seat system 948,the reaction system 950, and the airbag system 952, but one or more ofthese components may be absent from the safety system 942.

The controller 944 coordinates operation of the safety system 942 bycommunicating electronically (e.g., using wired or wirelesscommunications) with the sensors 946, the seat system 948, the reactionsystem 950, and the airbag system 952. The controller 944 may receiveinformation (e.g., signals, information, and/or data) from the sensors946 and may receive information from and/or send information to otherportions of the safety system 942 such as the seat system 948, thereaction system 950, the airbag system 952, or other portions (notshown).

The sensors 946 may capture or receive information related, for example,to components of the safety system 942 and from an external environmentwhere the safety system 942 is located. The external environment can bean exterior of a vehicle or an interior of a vehicle such as the vehiclecabin 100 of FIGS. 1-2 and 7-8 . Information captured or received by thesensors 946 can relate to seats, anchors, footrests, occupants within avehicle, other vehicles, pedestrians and/or objects in the externalenvironment, operating conditions of the vehicle, operating conditionsor trajectories of other vehicles, and/or other conditions within thevehicle or exterior to the vehicle.

The safety system 942 can change an operational mode of the seat system948, the reaction system 950, and/or the airbag system 952 based on acontrol signal, such as a signal from the controller 944. The controlsignal may be based on information captured or received by the sensors946 and may cause various components within the safety system 942 tochange between various operational modes.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a hardware configuration for a controller1054 that may be used to implement the controller 944 and/or otherportions of the safety system 942. In the illustrated example, thecontroller 1054 includes a processor 1056, a memory device 1058, astorage device 1060, one or more input devices 1062, and one or moreoutput devices 1064. These components may be interconnected by hardwaresuch as a bus 1066 that allows communication between the components.

The processor 1056 may be a conventional device such as a centralprocessing unit and is operable to execute computer program instructionsand perform operations described by the computer program instructions.The memory device 1058 may be a volatile, high-speed, short-terminformation storage device such as a random-access memory module. Thestorage device 1060 may be a non-volatile information storage devicesuch as a hard drive or a solid-state drive. The input devices 1062 mayinclude sensors such as the sensors 946 and/or any type of human-machineinterface, such as buttons, switches, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreeninput device, a gestural input device, or an audio input device. Theoutput devices 1064 may include any type of device operable to sendcommands associated with an operating mode or state or provide anindication to a user regarding an operating mode or state, such as adisplay screen, an interface for a safety system such as the safetysystem 942, or an audio output.

As described above, one aspect of the present technology is thegathering and use of data available from various sources, such as fromthe sensors 946 or user profiles, to improve the function of safetysystems such as the safety system 942. The present disclosurecontemplates that in some instances, this gathered data may includepersonal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used tocontact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data caninclude demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, emailaddresses, twitter IDs, home addresses, data or records relating to auser's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements,medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or anyother identifying or personal information.

The present disclosure recognizes that the use of personal informationdata, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit of users.For example, the personal information data can be used to deliverchanges to operational modes of safety systems such as the safety system942 to best match user preferences or profiles. Other uses for personalinformation data that benefit the user are also possible. For instance,health and fitness data may be used to provide insights into a user'sgeneral wellness or may be used as positive feedback to individualsusing technology to pursue wellness goals.

The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible forthe collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use ofsuch personal information data will comply with well-established privacypolicies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities shouldimplement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that aregenerally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmentalrequirements for maintaining personal information data private andsecure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users and should beupdated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personalinformation from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonableuses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimateuses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving theinformed consent of the users.

Additionally, such entities should consider taking any needed steps forsafeguarding and securing access to such personal information data andensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhereto their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities cansubject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify theiradherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices. Inaddition, policies and practices should be adapted for the particulartypes of personal information data being collected and/or accessed andadapted to applicable laws and standards, includingjurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in the US,collection of or access to certain health data may be governed byfederal and/or state laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability andAccountability Act (HIPAA); whereas health data in other countries maybe subject to other regulations and policies and should be handledaccordingly. Hence different privacy practices should be maintained fordifferent personal data types in each country.

Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplatesembodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to,personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplatesthat hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent orblock access to such personal information data. For example, in the caseof user-profile-based safety systems, the present technology can beconfigured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” ofparticipation in the collection of personal information data duringregistration for services or anytime thereafter. In addition toproviding “opt in” and “opt out” options, the present disclosurecontemplates providing notifications relating to the access or use ofpersonal information. For instance, a user may be notified upondownloading an app that their personal information data will be accessedand then reminded again just before personal information data isaccessed by the app.

Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personalinformation data should be managed and handled in a way to minimizerisks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can beminimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once itis no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including incertain health related applications, data de-identification can be usedto protect a user's privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, whenappropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth,etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g.,collecting location data a city level rather than at an address level),controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users),and/or other methods.

Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use ofpersonal information data to implement one or more various disclosedembodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the variousembodiments can be implemented without the need for accessing suchpersonal information data. That is, the various embodiments of thepresent technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all ora portion of such personal information data. For example, changes inoperational modes in safety systems can be implemented for a given userby inferring user preferences or user status based on non-personalinformation data, a bare minimum amount of personal information, othernon-personal information available to the system, or publicly availableinformation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A safety system for a vehicle, comprising: a worktable disposed in an extended position and movable to a reactionposition and a stowed position; an airbag; and a controller thatincludes a processor configured to: receive information indicative of avehicle event; and send a command to deploy the airbag based on theinformation indicative of the vehicle event, wherein when deployed, theairbag expands to abut a bottom surface of the work table and isconfigured to move the work table from the extended position to thereaction position such that the bottom surface of the work table in thereaction position serves as a reaction surface for the airbag.
 2. Thesafety system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configuredto: receive information indicative of the work table disposed in thestowed position; and send a command to cause movement of the work tablefrom the stowed position to the extended position based on theinformation indicative of the vehicle event.
 3. The safety system ofclaim 1, further comprising a table release mechanism configured toprohibit movement of the work table in a locked configuration and allowmovement of the work table in an unlocked configuration, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: send a command to the table releasemechanism to move from the locked configuration to the unlockedconfiguration to allow movement of the work table between the extendedposition and the reaction position based on the information indicativeof the vehicle event.
 4. The safety system of claim 1, furthercomprising a seat system, wherein the processor is further configuredto: receive information indicative of a rearward position for a seat inthe seat system, wherein the seat has a forward position proximate tothe work table and the rearward position spaced from the work table. 5.The safety system of claim 4, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: send a command to at least one of a seat releasemechanism to move from a locked configuration to an unlockedconfiguration to allow movement of the seat or a seat motion-controldevice configured to cause movement of the seat from the rearwardposition to the forward position based on the information indicative ofthe vehicle event and the rearward position of the seat.
 6. The safetysystem of claim 4, further comprising: a seat energy-absorbing (EA)device configured to control movement of the seat between the rearwardand forward positions.
 7. The safety system of claim 6, wherein the seatEA device comprises an EA element configured to deform above apredetermined load threshold to control movement of the seat between therearward and forward positions.
 8. The safety system of claim 7, whereinthe EA element is a series of notch elements spaced along a longitudinalaxis of a seat guide.
 9. The safety system of claim 6, wherein the seatEA device comprises a cable coupled to the seat and configured to payoutfrom a cable guide above a predetermined load threshold to controlmovement of the seat along a seat guide.
 10. The safety system of claim9, wherein the cable guide comprises a spool and torsion bar configuredto control payout of the cable along the seat guide.
 11. The safetysystem of claim 9, wherein the cable comprises a ductile strip and thecable guide comprises barriers configured to deform the ductile strip tocontrol payout of the ductile strip along the seat guide.
 12. A method,comprising: receiving information indicative of an imminent collisionfor a vehicle; determining that a work table in the vehicle is in anextended position, wherein the work table has a stowed position, theextended position, and a reaction position; and sending a command todeploy an airbag of the vehicle in response to receiving the informationindicative of the imminent collision and determining that the work tableis in the extended position, wherein the work table is configured tomove from the extended position to the reaction position based onexpansion of the airbag so that a bottom surface of the work table inthe reaction position serves as a reaction surface for the airbag. 13.The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining that the worktable is in the stowed position; and sending a command to cause movementof the work table from the stowed position to the extended position inresponse to determining that the work table is in the stowed positionand in response to receiving the information indicative of the imminentcollision.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: determiningthat a seat associated with the work table is in a rearward position,wherein the seat has a forward position proximate to the work table andthe rearward position spaced from the work table; and sending a commandto at least one of a seat release mechanism to move from a lockedconfiguration to an unlocked configuration to allow movement of the seator a seat motion-control device to cause movement of the seat from therearward position to the forward position in response to determiningthat the seat is in the rearward position and that the work table is inthe extended position.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:sending a command to a seat energy-absorbing (EA) device to controlmovement of the seat between the rearward and forward positions.
 16. Asafety system for a vehicle, comprising: a work table disposed in anextended position and movable to a reaction position and a stowedposition; a seat disposed in a rearward position spaced from the worktable and movable to a forward position proximate to the work table; anairbag disposed in a stowed position under the work table and expandableto a deployed position abutting a bottom surface of the work table; anda controller that includes a processor configured to: send a command todeploy the airbag upon receiving information indicative of a vehicleevent; and send a command to move the seat from the rearward position tothe forward position upon receiving the information indicative of thevehicle event, wherein the airbag is configured to move the work tablefrom the extended position to the reaction position such that the bottomsurface of the work table in the reaction position serves as a reactionsurface for the airbag.
 17. The safety system of claim 16, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: send a command to a seat releasemechanism to move from a locked configuration to an unlockedconfiguration to allow movement of the seat from the rearward positionto the forward position.
 18. The safety system of claim 16, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: send a command to a seatmotion-control device to cause movement of the seat from the rearwardposition to the forward position.
 19. The safety system of claim 16,further comprising: a seat energy-absorbing (EA) device configured tocontrol movement of the seat between the rearward and forward positions.20. The safety system of claim 19, wherein the seat EA device comprisesan EA element configured to deform above a predetermined load thresholdto control movement of the seat between the rearward and forwardpositions.